- Dhaka
Only Election Roadmap Can Ease Political Tensions, Says BNP
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has asserted that only a clear and immediate roadmap for the upcoming national election can ease the current political tensions in the country. Party leaders believe that political instability has escalated due to growing rifts among factions that supported the July uprising—especially over election timing and calls for the resignation of key advisers.
In addition to those issues, the BNP has raised concerns about the government's plan to establish a humanitarian corridor to Myanmar’s war-torn Rakhine state and the move to hand over the management of Chattogram Port to a foreign entity.
Party insiders believe that the interim government could unveil the election roadmap by June, and the sooner it is announced, the quicker political clarity will return. “Without it, the uncertainty will persist,” a senior BNP leader said.
The BNP has been in communication with its allies over the past two days, and sources indicate a formal meeting may take place shortly. BNP leaders also discussed the matter with Jamaat-e-Islami, reflecting growing coordination among opposition groups.
The Ganosamhati Andolon echoed similar demands, stressing in a statement last night that "an immediate announcement of a roadmap for justice, reforms, and polls is necessary to overcome the current uncertainty and pave the way for democratic transition."
“There is no alternative to achieving political consensus,” the statement said. It also emphasized the need for national unity following the July uprising, warning that “without it, the nation will lose its way.”
The Ganosamhati Andolon, BNP, and several other parties had participated in joint protests against the former Awami League regime. According to sources, the BNP had planned a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus last Wednesday, as per a National Standing Committee decision. The aim was to discuss the issue of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain being sworn in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, as well as broader political concerns.
However, the meeting did not materialize despite repeated attempts. In lieu of the meeting, the BNP held a press conference on Thursday at its chairperson’s office in Gulshan. At the event, BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain reiterated the demand for a clear and immediate roadmap for a free, fair, and inclusive national election to be held by December.
“Without this, it will be difficult for us to continue supporting the interim government,” he warned.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also stressed that the only way forward is through a prompt announcement of the election roadmap. “Further discussion is pointless. Reform is a continuous process,” he stated.
A Standing Committee member further questioned the government’s delay: “We don’t want to agitate against this government. But every time we raise the election issue, they ask for time. How much time? December? Next June? This must be clarified.”
As BNP supporters continued to protest for Ishraque’s oath, the National Citizen Party (NCP) held separate demonstrations demanding the reconstitution of the Election Commission, citing alleged bias toward the BNP. The NCP also pushed for the implementation of the July Declaration.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has taken the demand further, calling for a referendum to validate the July Declaration. However, BNP leaders questioned the necessity of such a move, pointing to the enduring significance of the 1971 Liberation War declaration.
“There were mass uprisings in 1975 and 1990, yet no one called for a new declaration then,” a BNP leader noted. According to the party, this new demand is aimed at erasing the legacy of 1971 and obscuring war crimes committed during the Liberation War. "We will not support any move that attempts to rewrite our history," they added.
Party leaders also welcomed recent remarks by Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who touched on the need for state reforms, fair elections, and curbing mob justice—viewed by BNP as aligning with public sentiment and reinforcing the urgency of an election.
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